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Original poster

Fucking mouth ulcers

33 replies

sourpuss23 · 01/03/2025 23:11

Ugh. I've always had them but as I'm getting older I suffer so much worse with them. I can go weeks, months even without one then something will flare up and I'll remember how vile they are.

I've got 2 at the moment, one that is massive and it's not just localised mouth pain, my whole head feels like it's swollen and sore. My glands are up, I have permanent headache and my eyes are so sore. I know it's the ulcer because it's the same thing every time I get one.

I've been dealing with it for years and I know salt water/mouthwash rinses help keep it clean. Paracetamol and anbesol gel help with the pain. But really for me the only way around it is time - I have to accept that I'll be miserable for a week then it'll start to improve.

I'm probably deficient in something but I think it's also something that I'm just susceptible to either in times of stress or certain times in my cycle. Either way it's shit and I'm thinking of asking my dentist to prescribe some sort of super strength mouthwash. Does anyone else suffer like this? My head feels like it's going to explode.

OP posts:
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nutellaaa · 08/03/2025 00:29

I had mouth ulcers a lot when I was a child. My mother took me to a homeopath. I remember him asking me really random questions. Anyway he prescribed one pill and they went away. I get them very occasionally if run down. Maybe these things work better on children but it could be worth a try

2minutesplease · 08/03/2025 00:20

Corsodyl mouthwash helps me enormously with mouth ulcers. They are gone in a couple of days.

Didimum · 07/03/2025 23:59

You poor thing. I have had bouts of them across the years and yes, they are miserable. Some really good advice on this thread, I hope something works.

rollon22now · 07/03/2025 23:55

Dentist here. Go see your dentist. Asked to get referred to oral medicine for further investigations. Other things to try-

  1. Avoid certain triggers, hard food that might cut your mouth such as boiled sweets, crusty bread, anything crispy
  2. Avoid cinnamon and other spiced foods
  3. Avoid sodium lauryl sulphate based toothpastes
  4. Try a steroid- hydrocortisone pellets dissolved in the area, or get your dentist to prescribe Betametasone tablets to use as a mouthwash. A steroid inhaler will also work.
  5. Get your dentist to remove any sharp edges of teeth or fillings
  6. Try a numbing mouthwash / spray such as Benzydamine
  7. Get blood tests to rule out Vitamin B/folate deficiencies
  8. Take vitamin B/folate supplements
  9. See gp to rule out coeliacs, crohns disease and other inflammatory conditions
10. Try and get hold of Adcortyl in orabase if you are ever abroad. ( triamcinolone acetonide) Due to financial reasons this was discontinued in the UK about 16 years ago, but it's still available Thailand/China/Malaysia. It's great stuff 11. Use plain orabase paste if can't get the adversely 12. Rule out any viral causes 13. Look for oral plasters ( little covers that sit over the ulcer and helps protect it from further trauma 14. Get allergy testing to rule out allergic causes 16. Try corsodyl mouthwash to help keep the area clean 17. Salt mouthwash is a great healer 18. Avoid polomints and similar 19. If ulcers are caused by cheek biting/awkward bite a mouth guard might help 20. Alternative complimentary medications such as propolis oil is known to be effective
WotsitsMadeIn1927 · 07/03/2025 20:28

I’ve suffered with mouth ulcers since I was about 8 (now 41) and a lot worse when I was hospitalised with Glandular fever at 15, I used to have up to 30 to 40 ulcers at a time. There was nothing I hadn’t tried.
Try using an antibacterial mouth wash (Tesco 55p I think) an immune boosting tonic (metatone -Amazon). Floss your teeth. Keep good oral hygiene and self care like sleeping properly and healthy but non acidic foods. It took me way too long to figure this out, and I haven’t had any for a good couple of years now.

P.S. Antibacterial mouth wash two to three times a day, bonjela and sleeping properly help rid of current ulcers.

reenon · 03/03/2025 00:45

This doesn't stop them appearing but helps you eat/drink/survive..

Lidocaine, comes in a tube like a paste. GP has to prescribe it Numbs it long enough so you can get some food down you.

I have been tested for EVERYTHING wrf to mouth ulcers and doctors have no clue why they keep recurring. Now I just have to manage things as best I can.

Devianinc · 02/03/2025 23:36

i knows there’s a medication that’s given out a lot and I can’t remember the name of it but I remember people I know going crazy with how dry their mouths were. Amotriptalin. I’m sure that’s it. It’s caused a lot of mouth sores. Mine was clonodine for high blood pressure but as soon as I stopped it went away

Original poster
sourpuss23 · 02/03/2025 22:53

I have never seen the GP about it as they always clear up on their own eventually and I just thought it was something I'd have to live with. But I definitely can't deal with them becoming worse or more frequent. I've felt rubbish all weekend.

Will definitely look into SLS free toothpaste. This has been recommended to me before but I've always been too tight to spend the extra on sensodyne!

OP posts:
PitchforksAndProof · 01/03/2025 23:59

Totally agree with previous posts about moving away from toothpaste that contains SLS.
Switching toothpastes has made such a huge difference for me.

Noshadealltea · 01/03/2025 23:53

Watching with interest. I get minimum 2 often more huge ones when I’m due on my period. Without fail. It makes me so miserable. I didn’t get a single one when I was pregnant. Maybe the folic acid/iron suppliments are worth me looking into.

Kathyparr · 01/03/2025 23:52

Please check your toothpaste. I suffered for years with multiple ulcers at a time. So painful and so regular. I stopped using toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulphate and they disappeared overnight. Can't remember the last one I had.

Constantsarechanging · 01/03/2025 23:51

Years ago I was referred to a dental hospital for mouth ulcers, aside from the toothpaste switch as mentioned above, I was advised to adjust diet to avoid typically inflammatory foods. Testing showed a b12 deficiency and since treatment (ongoing) they appear less frequently. I also get a prescribed mouthwash from the dentist which numbs my mouth which helps to eat/sleep etc.

They are truly awful, hope you have some relief soon.

Dolambslikemintsauce · 01/03/2025 23:49

Have you seen a GP and had them investigated? My toddler ds developed ME from a virus stemming from mouth ulcers.. Usually doesn't 'hit' dc under 10.... He was diagnosed at 3...youngest in the UK they said...

DoubleRainbow3 · 01/03/2025 23:48

You need bloods taken.
My daughter had them a lot and was low in folate. She was put on folic acid.

HeyDoodie · 01/03/2025 23:48

Give up gluten and take b12 high dose

Devianinc · 01/03/2025 23:48

Nat6999 · 01/03/2025 23:39

When I had pneumonia 18 months ago my mouth was hung in massive ulcers, inside both cheeks, roof of my mouth & under my tongue, they were so bad I couldn't eat & lost over 2 stone in a month. My lips also cracked & the corners of my mouth split so badly I could only drink through a straw, I have B12 deficiency & inject once a month anyway, it took ages for them all to heal, I panic now if I get the slightest sore in my mouth or around my lips.

Omg, I hope you’re better. That’s horrible.

Devianinc · 01/03/2025 23:46

I had this caused by medication and as soon as I stopped it, it went away.

Bobbingtons · 01/03/2025 23:42

sourpuss23 · 01/03/2025 23:11

Ugh. I've always had them but as I'm getting older I suffer so much worse with them. I can go weeks, months even without one then something will flare up and I'll remember how vile they are.

I've got 2 at the moment, one that is massive and it's not just localised mouth pain, my whole head feels like it's swollen and sore. My glands are up, I have permanent headache and my eyes are so sore. I know it's the ulcer because it's the same thing every time I get one.

I've been dealing with it for years and I know salt water/mouthwash rinses help keep it clean. Paracetamol and anbesol gel help with the pain. But really for me the only way around it is time - I have to accept that I'll be miserable for a week then it'll start to improve.

I'm probably deficient in something but I think it's also something that I'm just susceptible to either in times of stress or certain times in my cycle. Either way it's shit and I'm thinking of asking my dentist to prescribe some sort of super strength mouthwash. Does anyone else suffer like this? My head feels like it's going to explode.

I suffered from constant ulcers from adolescence. I would usually have at least 2 and it was debilitating especially the tongue ulcers!
About 15 years ago I did some research and it turns out chronic ulcers can be caused by toothpaste. Almost all toothpaste uses a chemical called SLS - sodium lauryl sulphate which is the thing that makes it foam. A huge number of people react badly to this and ulcerate. I use sensodyne gentle whitening as is contains something else and can't remember the last ulcer I had. It was genuinely life changing.

Nat6999 · 01/03/2025 23:39

When I had pneumonia 18 months ago my mouth was hung in massive ulcers, inside both cheeks, roof of my mouth & under my tongue, they were so bad I couldn't eat & lost over 2 stone in a month. My lips also cracked & the corners of my mouth split so badly I could only drink through a straw, I have B12 deficiency & inject once a month anyway, it took ages for them all to heal, I panic now if I get the slightest sore in my mouth or around my lips.

Original poster
sourpuss23 · 01/03/2025 23:28

I take vitamin c with zinc but I'm rubbish at remembering it daily. I took one today in the hope it might battle the ulcers but I think it's a bit late to be honest.

I always use the same toothpaste no idea if it has sodium lauryl sulfate in it. I could deal with the mouth pain but it's the fact that my whole head is banging. I'm so tired and I can't focus on anything. How can it cause so much pain!

OP posts:
Moier · 01/03/2025 23:27

First sign of vitamin b12 deficiency is mouth ulcers. I used to get up to 20 at a time.. on tounge...inside lips all over.
Not had one for 8 years scince l started SI vitamin b12.

INeedAnotherName · 01/03/2025 23:25

I used to feel like you when I was younger. Regularly taking a multivitamin and not burning the midnight oil means I haven't had a mouth ulcer since then.

Amybelle88 · 01/03/2025 23:24

I suffered when I was having chemotherapy, I really feel for you, they are SO painful.

I used to use difflam spray and/or rinse and it would help quite a lot.

Vitamin b and c, too, and metatone tonic if you're run down and that's what's causing them. B6 will help regulate your hormones and body if they are cycle related. Really hope you find something that works for you ❤️

MrsJoker · 01/03/2025 23:22

Get your gp to consider coeliac disease, get tested for iron and b vitamin deficiencies.
Best thing I have found to make things heal quickly are Gengigel and Kin hyaluronic acid gel (they don’t have pain relief in them
though so use something else got the pain)
Avoid sodium lauryl sulphate
Avoid strong mouthwashes
Get your dentist to check there isn’t anything localised causing friction eg sharp filling